While we all hold our breath waiting for green technologies like solar and wind to completely replace our need for coal-powered electricity, there’s a strong argument for upgrading our current infrastructure in the meantime. Smart grid technologies do two things very well: (1) improve energy distribution for (2) a low cost when compared to purchasing and implementing current wind or solar-based solutions. More importantly, we will need to shift to smart grid technologies in the future anyway.
What is the “smart grid”?
Modern electrical grids that take electricity from many different sources and deliver to your home or business are built around infrastructure designed in the late 1800s. Large utility companies in charge of managing these systems are risk adverse – for good reason – and have been hesitant to large upgrades of the electrical grid.
Smart grid concepts look to improve data collection so that supply and demand of electricity can be managed much more efficiently. This is accomplished through equipment upgrades in the home that help monitor electricity needs and send data in real-time back to the utility companies. The utility company then automatically helps send just the right amount of electricity to you – dramatically improving the management of power distribution.
To recap: a smart grid in your community would include devices in your home or business that track your electricity usage, send data to the utility companies, who then use new technologies to better manage supply and demand.
Is smart grid technology ready?
(Image Credit: MauiSmartGrid)
Absolutely! Let’s look at a few examples of how smart grid technologies are in use today.
Austin, Texas, USA is a prime example of a community gradually transitioning to smart grids. Already more than 1,000 homes have the technology installed and are pumping data to Austin Energy, who in turn are able to better manage the electricity that flows into the neighborhoods.
Chicago, Illinois, USA got approval to roll out smart grid equipment into 4 Million homes over the next 10 years – the largest smart grid upgrade in the US at the time, with a cost of about $2.6Billion. The project is supposed to create 2,400 jobs.
On the technology side of things, Texas Instruments just announced 24 new smart grid devices and tools to help upgrade the nation’s infrastructure. The devices are ready to ship and allow for even lower energy to run, broadcast data via Wifi (the data is encrypted), and improved data management systems back at the utility companies.
Itron, the largest manufacturer of smart grid power meters, just bought out SmartSynch, which has 1.8 Million users in Michigan and also was among the winners of a contract to sell their meters to China – a major player in the smart grid markets.
Smart grids matter NOW
Regardless of the source of sustainable energy for your community, smart grid technologies will be need to effectively manage the power distribution. Our current system requires manual collection of data that is often a month or more old. Real-time data collection and responsiveness will drive down our costs today – regardless of the source of our electricity.
Investments in electrical infrastructure are needed, the technology is ready, and the cost of implementing them are more effective today than investing in renewable sources.
Imagine a system in your town that uses coal, wind, solar, and hydro-electric systems. These sources of power are managed by the utility companies and sent to the homes and businesses in your community. As power systems start adding more sources, the need for management is going to become more critical than ever.
Investments in electrical infrastructure are needed, the technology is ready, and the cost of implementing them are more effective today than investing in renewable sources. This does not mean that communities should abandon investing in renewable energy, but focus on smart grids will help us transition to those renewable sources once we’re ready.
